Sworn-in legislators target gun control

Credit: Nancy Lane

Credit: Nancy Lane

Asst. Chief Court Officers Odell Ruffin (L) and Joe Quinn(R) share a laugh with Gov. Deval Patrick as he waits to enter the House Chamber for the swearing in ceremony.General Court in the House of Representatives in the Statehouse on Beacon Hill, Boston.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran waves as he is introduced at the Statehouse on Beacon Hill Wednesday.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Former House Speaker Thomas Finneran waves as he is introduced on Beacon Hill Wednesday.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Newly re-elected Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo shakes hands with State Rep David Vieira as he enters the chambers in the Statehouse Wednesday.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Gov. Deval Patrick swearing in members of the 188th General Court in the Statehouse. General Court in the House of Representatives in the Statehouse on Beacon Hill, Boston.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Representative Ted Speliotis holds his 15-month-old granddaughte at the Statehouse on Beacon Hill.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Lt. Gov Tim Murray peeks out from behind Gov. Deval Patrick as they arrive for the swearing in of members of the 188th General Court in the Statehouse Wednesday.

Credit: Nancy Lane

Representative Ted Speliotis is sworn in as his 15-month-old granddaughter and his wife June sit in his seat in the Statehouse Wednesday.

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Beacon Hill lawmakers — already presiding over a state with some of the strictest gun rules in the country — set their sights on tougher gun control laws as they returned for a new legislative session yesterday.

“I still think we can do better,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo.

DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray both singled out gun control — particularly keeping them out of the hands of the mentally ill — during inauguration speeches at the State House.

DeLeo has already named Jack McDevitt of Northeastern University to a panel, with others to be named later, to tighten the rules in the wake of last month’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

“I really want to see this blue ribbon commission go out, get some findings that I can prepare some legislation on and get something that’s meaningful as opposed to just a law that won’t have any meaningful effect,” DeLeo said.

Murray said she represents a district full of sportsmen who live off what they hunt but sees room to improve.

“I get that,” she said. “But I don’t know if you need the big weapons to kill deer. ... We have to look at what weapons are acceptable in society.”

Gun control was just one of the issues mentioned during a day of pomp, back-slapping and long speeches on Beacon Hill, where all reps and senators were sworn in for another two years.

DeLeo said he’s “frustrated” by the state transportation system’s deep financial woes. Murray called on lawmakers to close loopholes in the state’s problem-plagued welfare system.

Both were easily re-elected to another two-year leadership term.

“My fellow representatives, I assure you we are up to these tasks,” DeLeo said.

Former speakers Thomas M. Finneran, Robert H. Quinn and David M. Bartley watched DeLeo’s speech from behind the House podium.